RIT receives grant for program supporting minority students

Rochester Institute of Technology has received a grant from the state Department of Education for $534,756.

The funding is targeted to support undergraduate and graduate students from under-represented groups, particularly the university’s African-American, Latino-American and Native American populations.

The Collegiate Science Technology Entry Program provides academic enrichment programming and research experiences for students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, RIT officials said.

“A hallmark of RIT CSTEP is the academic and social support networks we provide for the program participants,” said Nizhoni Chow-Garcia, program director. “These services are intended to complement a student’s major degree program.”

Students participate in programs throughout the academic year and summer, including peer and faculty mentoring, tutoring, support for graduate school preparation, and academic and career development, RIT officials said.

The program is administered by RIT’s Native American Future Stewards Program, and many of its participants are Native American students, officials said. While the group has become one of the fastest growing affinity groups in the nation, they are least likely to attend college, RIT officials noted.

The Future Stewards Program has grown from 32 students when it first began at RIT in 2008 to 136 students in 2011, with 40 newly enrolled Native American students in fall 2011, Chow-Garcia said.